Baltimore @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( May 16, 2018 ) Philadelphia 4, Baltimore 1

The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves as legitimate contenders in the National League East as well as likely buyers at the trade deadline later this month. The Phillies (45-37) vie to improve their standing as they enter an enviable stretch of their schedule with the opener of an abbreviated two-game interleague series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles (24-59).

"It shows we're here to stay," said Andrew Knapp, whose mammoth home run in the 13th inning of Sunday's 4-3 victory over Washington kept Philadelphia within earshot of first-place Atlanta. The Phillies, winners of four of their last five and 10 of 15 overall, could take another step toward closing the gap with the Braves as they begin a stretch of 20 of their next 23 games against teams with a losing record. Manny Machado, who is the unquestioned prize heading into the trade deadline, homered to highlight his third straight multi-hit performance as Baltimore snapped a seven-game skid Sunday with an 8-2 romp over the Los Angeles Angels. The 25-year-old Machado has two homers and four RBIs during his five-game hitting streak, although he went 0-for-4 in his lone encounter with Philadelphia -- a 4-1 loss May 16.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Alex Cobb (2-9, 6.75 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (6-2, 3.02)

Cobb saw his winless stretch extend to four starts Wednesday after allowing five runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision versus Seattle. The 30-year-old was taken deep once in that contest and five times total during his last four outings, a span in which he has permitted 20 runs and 30 hits in 22 1/3 frames. Cobb has yet to face Philadelphia, although he has seen Carlos Santana go 3-for-12 in his career against him.

Eflin aims to follow a sterling June in which he posted a 5-0 mark with a 1.76 ERA, highlighted by his seven scoreless innings against the New York Yankees during Wednesday's 3-0 victory The 24-year-old yielded four hits and allowed one runner to reach second base against the Yankees as he continued his transformation from a pitcher who posted a bloated 5.85 ERA in 22 starts over his first two seasons. "Being able to be healthy and to focus on pitching alone is probably the biggest thing," Eflin told reporters.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia 2B Cesar Hernandez, who homered against Baltimore in the previous meeting, has eight hits and four walks over his last six games.

2. Orioles CF Adam Jones has scored three times during his five-game hitting streak.

3. Santana has walked at least once in eight straight games to run his total to 63 on the season, third to to Washington's Bryce Harper and Cincinnati's Joey Votto in the NL.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Orioles 2